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Could New Compassionate Guidelines Release Enhance Opportunities for Federal Inmates?
Regular TCR columnist Billy Sinclair delves into the legal intricacies of compassionate release for federal prisoners under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1)(A). Sinclair examines the four-stage process required for a prisoner to seek compassionate release and provides an in-depth overview of the criteria, including age, medical condition, and more, necessary for eligibility. The discussion also highlights the amendments brought about by the First Step Act of 2018, which have expanded the definitions of “extraordinary and compelling reasons.” With the impending implementation of new U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines in November 2023, Sinclair argues that these changes will significantly enhance the opportunities for federal prisoners to secure sentence reductions through the compassionate release program.